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Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

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dutchsiberia

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Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post07 Nov 2013, 17:37

I bought this watch as "not working". Fired up after placing a battery and the "secret button combination" :) (described in the inside of the caseback)
I already had the RC4400, but it wouldn't start up properly (continuous beep and garbled screen) I decided to try it again and it worked fine :eek:

So now I've got this nice combo, now on the lookout for a cable and software :)

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Bracelet is just long enough :)

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Seiko Kid

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post08 Nov 2013, 00:35

I have the software but unless your a computer nerd it will only work on windows 98 / 2000

Never seen a cable solo. but I think really you should give this guy a shout
http://forum.pocketcalculatorshow.com/t ... 00-rc-4400
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Kasper

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post09 Nov 2013, 11:34

very nice...is it also aluminium? I really like mine..incredible comfy and light.

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post09 Nov 2013, 12:41

Sometimes I think with these watches there is an AC reset that can help bring it back to life if the button sequence isn't working effectively

Some years back now I found myself with this! Never managed to get the 4400 or the 1000 ( i did get a chance to play with one of those last year )

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post10 Nov 2013, 01:06

here's a start . No cable but will look good in the collection when you get one

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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post10 Nov 2013, 01:54

yippiee a box.... A few years ago I helped a good friend buy a new in box rc 1000 with cable, software on cassette and manuals for 50 euro :-)
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post10 Nov 2013, 20:36

incredible nice shot, Seiko Kid..like the gold and the one left of the gold. I was wondering...do any of these have a light?
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post10 Nov 2013, 21:49

It's my understanding that only the RC-1000 has a light. (and an awesome RC collection :) )
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post12 Nov 2013, 10:10

i just can't remember if it did or not, but the rest definitely don't

The 2 you like Kaspar are Memo Diary's. The Spacetronic Muslim prayer watch also uses the same case and module build. Just has no transmitter and uses a different bracelet.

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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post14 Nov 2013, 22:04

Seiko Kid wrote:I have the software but unless your a computer nerd it will only work on windows 98 / 2000

Never seen a cable solo. but I think really you should give this guy a shout
http://forum.pocketcalculatorshow.com/t ... 00-rc-4400



Thank you for the link, I've already looked at that, but If you've got the original software I really would like a copy if that's not a problem. I'm quite a computer nerd. (and in the posession of some vintage laptops) I'm also looking for the RC1000 software (rc1000.bas) for a friend who's véry computer nerdy. (pong collection anyone?)
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post14 Nov 2013, 22:38

Just send me your address and I'll shoot you a CD over
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post14 Nov 2013, 23:52

I must say that the more the time is passing, the more I'm getting attracted by the RC4000. It looks like a futuristic "wrist-computer", and the black and gold colours combination makes it very appealing. :-)
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post15 Nov 2013, 00:15

Is there any cool function in these Seiko Computer watches? I had one ages ago that came with a keyboard but the keyboard didnt work (Or i was too dumb) so sold it again. I thought they are only a better phonebook watch? Or what can you do with them? Seeing such a big collection makes me curious.Getting the feeling i missed something.
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post07 Apr 2017, 22:12

Hi,
Finally, I have found and bought a NOS Seiko RC 4400 - PC Datagraph with all original cases, IBM compatible serial cable and software, leather case etc, that I may review later :)
Does anybody still has the Original IBM software for it (since my watch came with the original software on a 5.25 inch disk, thus I not have a computer to read it)?
Also,since it has not a battery in it right now, I kindly ask those who know which is the above-mentioned "secret button combination" to start it after battery replacement?
Is it the buttons A, B and C combination - pressed simultaneously, as it is mentioned in the manual for the "all clear" function?
Thanks in advance for Your kind answers,
Best regards, :dwf:
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post08 Apr 2017, 18:18

Awesome!
Look inside the back cover :)

(pic on other host should be visible now)
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post10 Apr 2017, 19:21

Thanks for the advice :(, but what if my watch (for example) would not had such a label inside the caseback, since Your attached image cannot be seen? :). After all, at the watchmaker check, my watch had the inside label, but I really don't understand why so much cautions from You to CLEARLY present this straight solution, since it is already a very rare watch and the same thing it is written in the manual, but not very clear for everybody!
I would have been much more thankful if somebody would have clearly told me the below-presented simple solution I've asked for ( in my post above about ABC simultaneous buttons combination for RC 4000/4400).

ANYWAY, below is presented the solution I was asking for - after all, and as I suspected, the solution IS THE ONE presented in the manual of the watch, tried and verified during the "revival" of this vintage and outstanding watch with my watchmaker:
I was with my watch (Seiko RC 4400 PC Datagraph) at my excellent watchmaker, so - after the proper battery replacement - it is now working like a charm :).
If I will have some time I will post some more photos of this NOS RC-4400 and/or I will make a full review with (hi)story :).
Some advice for other users:
If the battery was removed for a long time, after battery replacement the watch may display a "garbled" screen and/or will sound continuously.
Thus, to make it crystal clear for all current or future users of such watches: The "magic" solution to this problem is to press SIMULTANEOUSLY the A-B-C buttons combination for few seconds (3-5 s), that will do an AC (All Clear) reset of the watch, as it is mentioned in the manual page shown in the picture below:
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So, the regular ALL CLEAR reset for the data will also perform an AC reset if the watch may function strangely AFTER the battery replacement!
It's a kind of "magic" ... :mega: :grin1:
Hope this will help also other users/owners of these outstanding vintage watches,
Best regards,
:dwf:
Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)
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dutchsiberia

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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post11 Apr 2017, 19:41

weird. I can see the picture just fine? (It's on the DWF image host)

(on other host now, should be visible, but your excellent photo does the job already :) )
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post11 Apr 2017, 22:33

It was quite weird, indeed: I really could not see the image and I was a little frustrated, since I knew that Your picture may contain the proper solution for my problem. :grin1:
And I did not want to open the watch case until I was able to go to my watchmaker, because I simply didn't know what I may find inside the case (e.g. some corrosion from an old battery etc etc). ~:(
Fortunately, it was not the case...the watch was like new also inside, including the LCD module. :-D
As I've already told You, the watch is NOS (it even has the sealed pack containing the original Gold Plated plaque that may be glued on the caseback, where the owner may have his initials eventually engraved on it - pls see the picture below :grin1: ), so I simply didn't want to do something that may ruin it, without the proper knowledge.

Anyway, now Your excellent picture of the watch case back note can be seen by regular forum's users, finally.
Many thanks for all Your kind help. :Prost:
Best regards,
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Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post18 Apr 2017, 21:23

A new photo of my Seiko RC 4400 Pocket Terminal (now working - after the battery replacement and the "magic buttons combination" described above) :grin1: , together with another recently acquired watch, that I was searching for from a long time:
Seiko D031-401A, the first DOT MATRIX display watch (1980) - and I may write a review later, about WHY this ""proof-of-concept" was a major achievement for Seiko, but also for other High-Tech companies from Japan, at that time :grin1: .
I also want to reiterate my previous kind request: I kindly ask if somebody has the IBM compatible original software for Seiko RC 4000/4400, since my software has come on a 5.25 inch floppy, thus I cannot read it on any computers I have.
Regards,
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post19 Apr 2017, 12:56

What I have found quite interesting is the fact that RC 4000/4400 Pocket Terminals were able to transmit/receive data BI-DIRECTIONAL, not only from one watch to another, but also TO/FROM a computer, by the means of a battery powered BI-DIRECTIONAL adapter (adapter SEIKO RC-4200, using Manganese dry battery S-006P 9V), as one may see in the picture below, from the original user manual.
So these may be the first watches in history able to do a wired BI-DIRECTIONAl serial communications for data transmission, between them and/or with third-party computers! :grin1:
So a business man was able (in 1985!!!) e.g. to schedule the future meetings on his computer, upload them to the watch and after that to share them from the watch with all the employees'' computers!!! :eek:
Does anybody know about/own or at least personally seen such a Seiko RC-4200 bidirectional adapter??? :scratch:
Regards,
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Last edited by cybr on 19 Apr 2017, 13:23, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post19 Apr 2017, 12:57

The Seiko D031 is a super watch,i have one here in nos conditions with tag and priced 174.000 lire in 1980,a huge amount of money at that time...Simply amazing
Some watches are made to last only as long as they are fashionable
Some watches, simply are not made to last
Seiko watches are designed to withstand the ravages of both time and fashion
Someday perhaps, all watches will be made this way
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Re: Seiko RC4000 and RC4400

Post19 Apr 2017, 13:08

Thanks Simone,
Indeed Seiko D031 is an amazing watch, and the MSRP(manufacturer's suggested retail price) price was about 495 USD when it appeared :eek: . But it was a breakthrough product - literally a real '''proof-of-concept" for the technology of dot-matrix displays - that allowed soon after the Japanese High-Tech companies to do other amazing things with this - now proven to work - dot-matrix display technology, as I may show in my future review of this watch.
Best regards,
:dwf:
Every watch should have its own story...consequently, a watch collector has to be a good storyteller :)
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